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Big Island of Hawaii Rainfall Map

There are a number of micro-climates on the Big Island, ranging from desert looking areas (complete with cactus) to occasional snow at the top of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.  If you like tropical lush and green, cooler hills, or warm and dry, we have it all here on Hawaii Island!

Easy blowing trade winds bring East Hawaii more rain and cooler temperatures than West Hawaii.  It is cloudy and rainiest in the hills high above Hilo and upper Puna.  It stays warmer and dryer near Hilo Bay and the Puna coast.  Don't be misled... an average East Hawaii day is a sunny morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon (mostly cloudy in the higher hills), and rain a few evenings and / or early mornings a week.  The weather reports often forecast rain because at some point in the 24 hour day, there is likely to be some rainfall.  The funny thing is mainland clients start off asking me "how can you live in an area that gets 100 to 125 inches of rain a year?"  But after they spend a year here, they start praying for the rain!  It keeps everything green, cool,  and fresh.  It doesn't rain "all the time", but when it does, Hilo can get quite a downpour.

Kailua-Kona is typically 5 degrees warmer than Hilo during the day, but doesn't cool down as much during the evening.  It's almost always warm and sunny near the ocean, and partly cloudy, cooler and greener in the hills above Kailua.  Waimea is pleasant during the day, but can sometimes be foggy and rather breezy at night as the wind rushes between the mountains.  Volcano weather is similar to Waimea, minus the wind.  Most homes have fire places up there for those chilly winter nights.

Current weather conditions in Hilo Kona Waimea Hawaii